Matt Barnes played some terrific defense in Orlando’s 96-94 victory over the Lakers, he stood toe-to-toe with one of the game’s fiercest competitors, and he pump faked a ball in Kobe’s face. That’s more than enough to dub Monday, March 8th, something of a Matt Barnes appreciation day, particularly among the internet’s sometimes vicious anti-Kobe contingent. They minimal amount of bad blood between the Magic and Lakers had long since dissipated, but Barnes went out of his way to make things interesting for the reigning conference champs.

Matt Barnes can opt out of his contract after the season ends, and if the Magic let him leave, they will go backward in their title quest. Pay the man. He makes the league veteran’s minimum of $1.8 million. He’s the lowest-paid starter, and it’s criminal. “I want to stay here, of course….but I need to get paid, too,” Barnes says, matter of factly. They need to convince him t stay even if it means going deeper into the tax or trading away somebody else. Barnes was clearly the difference in the Magic’s win on Sunday against the defending champion Lakers. Clearly.

…Barnes signed a two-year deal with an option last summer as a free agent. What he gives the Magic is hard to price. But he gives them something they don’t have all the time — toughness, grit, rebounding and defense. He guards Kobe and all the other star scorers. Pay the man.

Barnes is certainly capable of performing well above his pay grade, but there is a reason the Magic were able to pick him up for $1.8 million. He clearly regressed during his second season with the Golden State Warriors which, coincidentally or not, came just after his first decent payday (a one-year deal worth $3 million). That was enough to put Golden State on notice and not re-sign him in 2008, despite the fact that Matt had been an indispensable part of the “WE BELIEVE” Dubs just a year earlier.

Plus, to say that Barnes’ being the Magic’s lowest-paid starter is somehow a crime is a bit misleading. Yes, he’s a quality rotation wing that a lot of playoff teams would love to have. But when he’s starting alongside the likes of Dwight Howard, Rashard Lewis, Jameer Nelson, and Vince Carter, what would you expect?

Barnes’ next paycheck will likely be determined by how much he can help the Magic in this year’s playoffs. But even then, let’s not confuse the fact that Barnes’ real contributions are difficult to valuate with the idea that he somehow exceeds in the value of Orlando’s other starters.

You probably answered “the Clippers.” Most fans do. So do most NBA referees — And everyone else. Which is why after a recent loss to Golden State, veteran Marreese Speight (a Warrior last season) pointed to the Clippers complaining about the officiating as part of the problem.

He went on to say that the scouting report is you can get in the Clippers’ heads by knocking them around a little. Which seems pretty obvious when you watch teams play them. Shockingly, Clippers coach Doc Rivers disagrees with that. Via NBCLosAngeles.com.

“The officiating thing, I don’t think, is our issue. I will say that,” said Rivers about the technical fouls. “If that were the problem, then, Golden State would be struggling. They’ve been No. 2 the last two years in techs, too. I think we need to point fingers in another direction than that.”

Doc may not like it, but Speights is right.

The Warriors do complain too much, but they also have a ring so more is forgiven. The problem for the Clippers is that reputation for complaining starts with Rivers — he complains as much or more than any coach in the league. Then it filters down through Chris Paul and Blake Griffin.

Is it fair that more is forgiven with winning? Moot question. Welcome to America. The Clippers complain a lot and have yet to get past the second round with this core. And at times there standing there complaining to the referees does get in the way of them getting back into defense, and they seem to go in a funk.

The Pelicans are disappointing this season — it is Anthony Davis vs. the world down there. Which is the main reason they are 7-16 this season. While things have gotten better since Jrue Holiday‘s return, Davis is averaging a league-best 31.4 points per game, it then drops off to Holiday at 15.4, and then E'Twaun Moore at 11.1.

When a team struggles, usually that is a bad sign for the coach. Not because it’s always their fault, but because GMs choose not to fire themselves for poor roster construction. Which leads to the question: Alvin Gentry, are you concerned about your job? (Warning, NSFW)

New Orleans’ struggles are not on Gentry, certainly not completely. He’d like a roster that can play uptempo, that has depth. What he got instead was a good point guard, an elite 4/5, a rookie in Buddy Hield that maybe pans out down the line, and then… nada. And the roster Gentry has often is banged up.

If anyone is in trouble, it is GM Dell Demps. Remember, Danny Ferry was hired last summer for the vague role of “special advisor.” Gentry is in his second year, and the issue is the roster he was given. But the Pelicans are a patient organization that values continuity, so… who knows. But the clock is ticking on Davis;, it’s years away, but the Pelicans need to build a team around him and are far from that right now.

Jones told the Beacon Journal he will retire after next season, which will be his 15th in the NBA. His ultimate dream is to ride off after three consecutive championships in Cleveland

“I know playing 15 years is a number where I can look back and I can be like, ‘I accomplished something,’ ” Jones said. “Fourteen vs. 15 may not be much, but to be able to say I played 15 years, that’s enough for me to hang ’em up.”

Jones’ contract expires after the season, so the Cavs will have a say in whether he returns. Safe to say if LeBron wants him back, Jones will be back.

But the Heat got into trouble relying on washed-up veterans around LeBron, wasting valuable roster spots on players who could no longer contribute.

Is that Jones? Not yet. Though he’s out of the rotation, he has still made 11-of-12 open 3-pointers this season. There’s a role for him as spot-up shooter when Cleveland needs one.

Still, the Cavaliers ought to be mindful of Jones’ likely decline over the next year and a half. Plus, it’s not a certainty he holds to his timeline. Cavs veterans have a history of changing their mindon retirement.